FMTA 06

Chapter 06

Life at the Siarekatte estate was going better than Yuse had expected.

At first, she had been surprised by the strict and busy daily routine.

Getting up at dawn, dressing from head to toe, studying, studying, and more studying.

“This is hard.”

Yuse, who had been used to freedom, found everything she had to learn to become the Duchess unfamiliar and difficult.

But every time, Killian would appear like magic to encourage her.

Always at the same time—8:30 in the evening.

As soon as the paper bell rang, the door would be knocked, as if he had been waiting for her.

“Yuse, are you there?”

Whenever Killian asked this,

“Yes, Killian!”

Even though Yuse’s face was drooping from studying, tearing her hair in frustration, she would rush to greet Killian.

Killian smiled warmly, his eyes gentle, and came a little closer to Yuse.

“How was today?”

“This part is difficult.”

Yuse was honest. She was not the type to hide her feelings in front of love, and she wanted even more to become the Duchess of Siarekatte properly.

“I just can’t understand it.”

“Are you asking about the empire’s spirit users?”

“Yes. I want to know why spirit users disappeared from the empire, and the reason behind it.”

Yuse was unusually serious for this question.

“The number of spirit users decreased drastically. A few years ago, during the empire’s war, the Aivram Empire—our enemy in that war—killed all the spirit users they could control.”

“…So there are no spirit users left now?”

“Yes. None at all.”

Yuse had more questions, but before she could speak, Killian continued first.

“Ah, Yuse. Is it okay if we talk about something else for a moment?”

Since Yuse usually brought up conversation topics first, she nodded at once.

It didn’t matter if her questions were postponed.

“I want to talk about our engagement ceremony.”

Hearing this, Yuse’s mind spun, but she swallowed hard to stay calm.

“Yes, please, go ahead.”

Her usual sparkling green eyes returned, bright and lively.

What was Killian going to say?

“I think it would be better to hold it sometime next week.”

This was the happiest news she had heard in a while.

“Great!”

“That’s a relief. Yuse, you don’t need to do anything. I will prepare everything myself.”

“Really? But… I thought engagement ceremonies required gifts or a dowry. You can’t do everything alone. I want to help too.”

“Haha. You are right, Yuse. But this is completely my choice. I want to show you my sincerity.”

Killian smiled warmly as he shook his head.

His gentle smile made Yuse’s breath stop for a moment.

Then he added,

“But there is something you must know.”

Killian always added a condition at the end of his sentences.

Yuse held back a fading smile and nodded.

“Ha…”

Yuse barely stopped Beila from following her everywhere.

Then she headed toward the garden that Killian had taken her to before.

“This is unfair.”

Her tangled thoughts ran through her head, but she could only whisper a single word.

All she could do was keep replaying Killian’s words in her mind.

The more she thought, the more the conversation from last night with Killian played in her head.

“I have something I need to tell you.”

Last night, Killian had started like this.

Then, as if he had already prepared what to say long ago, he began naturally.

“Since I am a duke and involved in many matters, there may be times when you are exposed to danger, Yuse.”

“Yes…”

“So I want to keep our engagement ceremony as simple as possible.”

Yuse’s expression had stiffened slightly, but Killian continued.

“This is for you. I want to show only good things here, in the empire, and at the estate.”

“I see…”

Seeing that Yuse couldn’t look at him, Killian quickly took her hand and asked gently.

Yuse’s face turned bright red again.

“If you trust me, there will be no problems between us. I promise.”

Killian looked so reliable and handsome that Yuse could only nod, entranced.

Even though she trusted him, she couldn’t shake her unease.

What dangers had Killian meant?

Why did they need to make their happy engagement ceremony smaller…?

To clear her mind, Yuse wanted to go to the garden and feel the cool breeze.

Luckily, Madame Julia, the social dance instructor, had canceled lessons for today, making it the perfect timing.

“The weather is nice, the view is good… but I’m still annoyed…”

Yuse still loved Killian more than anyone and knew her feelings hadn’t changed.

But still, a small knot of unease remained in her chest.

Of course, Yuse chose to ignore it.

She wanted her life to be full of happiness and joy.

Then, very suddenly, she heard someone stepping on the grass nearby.

“Who’s there?”

Yuse quickly stood, scanning the area and looking for anything she could use as a weapon.

At the same time, Killian’s words about enemies at the Siarekatte estate came to mind.

Her eyes narrowed, focusing on every small sound.

• Rustle.

Another tiny, quieter sound reached her ears.

The steps were heavy and unskilled.

It was a man.

“Hey. The man hiding behind the lemon tree.”

Noticing the sound came from the nearby lemon tree, Yuse held her dress and stepped back, pointing at the unknown man.

Of course, Killian would never see this side of her.

The man didn’t come out.

“…Not coming?”

Yuse’s voice carried a cold edge.

She looked around again and noticed a small branch she hadn’t seen before.

Silently, she picked it up and threw it toward the still-hidden man.

• Whoosh.

The branch hit a tree, leaving a small mark.

“Hic.”

Only then did the man make a tiny noise.

“Come out.”

Yuse said again.

Finally, the unknown man sighed and stepped into the sunlight.

“…Ah, really.”

“…?”

Yuse’s eyes widened in shock.

“Could it be….”

“Ah, really. You’re still scary, Yuse?”

Yuse’s green eyes trembled. It couldn’t be.

She thought she would never see him again.

Memories flashed by.

At the end of when she was nine.

A boy who always came to her room.

She had cried, not wanting to lose her friend, and the boy hugged her, crying too.

They had promised:

If they ever met again, if Yuse called his name first, he would hug her without hesitation.

“……”

Yuse’s pink lips moved as she spoke the name without thinking.

“Floheta?”

The unknown man was the boy from long ago, her childhood friend.

Floheta walked forward, as if he had been waiting.

“You recognized me, right? I was worried you might not know me.”

As if fulfilling the promise, Floheta opened his arms and hugged Yuse tightly.

“I can’t believe I’m seeing you again. I really, really missed you, Yuse.”

Floheta whispered softly as he held her.